Testing/Screening
TESTING FOR ADMISSION
Preschool applicants will be scheduled for assessment once a complete application has been submitted. The Early Screening Profiles instrument, published by Pearson, is used for preschool screening and is administered at Sycamore School by Sycamore staff.
Students applying for Prekindergarten through Eighth Grade must submit results of an age-appropriate Wechsler Scale or a comparable individual intelligence test and the results of a recent acceptable standardized achievement test (1st through 8th grade candidates only).
PRESCHOOL SCREENING
Children seeking admission should display well-developed language skills, an acute memory, and curiosity. Admission to Preschool is based on multiple criteria including:
- Results of a preschool screening and observation conducted at Sycamore. Preschool screenings are scheduled through the Enrollment Management Office and are conducted in February or by individual appointment throughout the year. The screening fee is included in the application fee.
- A parent recommendation indicating characteristics of giftedness
- A current teacher recommendation, if available
- Age-appropriate social and emotional development and behavior that would enable the child to function effectively in a classroom environment
PREKINDERGARTEN - 8TH GRADE
Children seeking admission should display a high level of intelligence and academic achievement and need a curriculum that is broader, deeper, and faster-paced than most. Admission to the Prekindergarten through Eighth Grade classes is based on multiple criteria including:
- A full-scale IQ score at or near the Very Superior range on a standardized, individually administered intelligence test
- A parent recommendation indicating characteristics of giftedness
- A current teacher recommendation
- A classroom visit
- Current report cards and achievement test scores that show a high level of achievement (First - Eighth Grade candidates)
- Age-appropriate social and emotional development and behavior that would enable the child to function effectively in a classroom environment
To remain at Sycamore after Early Childhood, children must show positive progress and potential and score at or near the Very Superior range of intelligence on a standardized, individually administered intelligence test taken during the child’s Kindergarten year.
Nondiscrimination Policy: Sycamore School admits qualified students of any race, color, gender, and national or ethnic origin, and is impartial in its administrative and educational policies with respect to these characteristics.
To honor families' commitment to Sycamore School, children of current families may apply before the general applicant pool. This involves an accelerated timeline for application completion and an earlier admission decision than our external applicants receive. Current families who apply for admission by December 1 will receive an admission decision in late January.
If a qualified sibling and a non-sibling apply for the same available opening, preference will be given to the sibling applicant, unless extraordinary qualifications of the non-sibling applicant require that the non-sibling be admitted in order to best fulfill the mission of the school.
TESTING PSYCHOLOGISTS
Sycamore School partners with two preferred testing psychologists, Joelle Larsen, Ph.D. and Jared Outcalt, Ph.D.
Joelle Larsen, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice for over 17 years. She is the parent of a previous Sycamore student. Dr. Larsen received her Ph.D. from Purdue University. Dr. Larsen has worked with children in private practice, as well as out-patient clinical and school settings. In addition to working in clinical practice, Dr. Larsen has had her license as a School Psychologist for the past 14 years. Her focus in the school system includes the assessment of children from preschool through 8th grade. Dr. Larsen began working with Sycamore in 2022.
Jared Outcalt, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice for over 10 years. Dr. Outcalt received his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University in 2007 and worked as the Chief of the Roudebush VA's Domiciliary prior to starting a private practice in 2011. He began working full time in private practice in 2014 and then with Sycamore in 2022. He is also the parent of one Sycamore graduate and two current Sycamore students.
Contact Dr. Larsen or Dr. Outcalt directly for testing fee information and to schedule an appointment for testing.
- Dr. Larsen can be reached at joellelarsen@att.net or (317) 490-0033
- Dr. Outcalt can be reached at outcalt9@gmail.com or (317) 430-7432
Please be sure to provide your phone number when you contact either of the testing psychologists, as sometimes it is easier for them to reach you via phone more quickly than via email.
*Note: If an applicant tests with one of Sycamore's preferred testing psychologists and enrolls at Sycamore within two (2) years of the testing date, the family will receive a credit for the testing fee on that student's first tuition bill. If a retest is needed, Sycamore will only give credit for the test used when admission was offered.
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